Flight Safety Information
August 23, 2013 - No. 174
In This Issue
2013 ISASI - Jerome F. Lederer Award...MYRON (Pappy) PAPADAKIS
Pilots' focus in the cockpit under scrutiny
Pilots urged to learn limitations of glass-cockpit technology
New FAA, OSHA Policy Aims to Protect Aircraft Cabin Crew Members
UND graduates receive exemption from aviation rule
Man in court for aiming laser pointer at state police aircraft (Virginia)
India's air safety rating could fall after AI crew complain
Think ARGUS PROS
NTSB Communications Course
Lufthansa starts campaign to lure more female pilots
NATA Safety 1st Updates Training to Meet December OSHA Deadline
GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY
2013 ISASI - Jerome F. Lederer Award
MYRON (Pappy) PAPADAKIS is the 2013 Lederer Award Winner.
Pappy has practiced Aviation Law for 36 years. He has been a qualified aviator for 40
years and an Airline Pilot for Delta for 31 years. He has evaluated ,investigated or
litigated over 450 aviation accidents. He was one of the first members of ISASI elected
to Fellow Status.
The Jerome F. Lederer Award is presented annually by the International Society of Air
Safety Investigators (ISASI), and is awarded for outstanding lifetime contributions to
technical excellence in furthering aviation accident investigation and achieving Society
objectives. Those objectives include enhancing aviation safety through the continuing
development and improvement of investigation techniques. It is the only recurring award
made by the Society.
http://www.isasi.org/award_winner.html#
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Pilots' focus in the cockpit under scrutiny
Safety experts have advocated better pilot training to monitor complex cockpit
technology, but the fatal Asiana Airlines crash is focusing attention on how to keep pilots
attentive to equipment.
Automated equipment fails so rarely that pilots could be lulled into complacency
NTSB has long warned of inadequate monitoring of equipment by flight crews
Distraction may be a factor in recent crashes in San Francisco and Birmingham, Ala.
Automated flight controls in airline cockpits have become so reliable that safety experts
say pilots could become inattentive to rare malfunctions that can lead to crashes.
Problems monitoring equipment have been cited for decades in crashes and could have
played a role in two recent fatal crashes. Mechanical problems weren't immediately
found as causes.
An Asiana Airlines passenger jet struck a seawall and crashed July 6 on the runway in
San Francisco, killing three passengers. A United Parcel Service cargo jet crashed Aug.
14 short of the runway in Birmingham, Ala., killing both pilots.
Besides the stick-and-rudder skills of steering a plane, commercial pilots routinely set
automated instruments that govern an airliner's direction, speed and altitude, then check
throughout the flight to ensure the systems are performing as expected.
"We get lazy, we get complacent, we get tired," said Jack Panosian, a former Northwest
pilot who teaches at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz. "What
happens when we see something work correctly 99 times? What do we do on that 100th
time? Are we monitoring it with the same level? The answer is no."
The National Transportation Safety Board has long noticed problems. A 1994 study of 37
crashes found that 31 involved inadequate monitoring. NTSB findings in several
accidents since then:
Asiana
This photo provided by the "San Francisco Chronicle" shows an image from the
helmet-mounted video camera of a San Francisco fire battalion chief at the
scene of the crash of Asiana Flight 214 on July 6, 2013.
*On July 26, 2002, a FedEx 727-200 approaching Tallahassee at night crashed and
seriously injured three crewmembers who failed to monitor controls when landing lights
warned that the plane was too low.
*On Nov. 22, 2004, a Gulfstream G-III sent to Houston to pick up former president
George H.W. Bush for a trip to Ecuador crashed and killed three crewmembers after they
failed to cross-check instruments during the approach.
*On Feb. 16, 2005, a Cessna Citation 560 crashed in Pueblo, Colo., killing eight people.
Besides distractions during the approach, one cause was the pilot's "failure to effectively
monitor" the equipment before stalling.
The board recommended after the crash in 2005 that the Federal Aviation Administration
"require that all pilot training programs be modified to ... teach and emphasize
monitoring skills."
That recommendation was repeated after a Colgan Air crash in Buffalo killed 50 people in
2009 and an American Airlines 757 overran a runway in Jackson Hole, Wyo., in 2010.
"This is really an area that is ripe for improving safety," said Robert Sumwalt, an NTSB
member and a former 24-year airline pilot.
The FAA hopes to complete a rule in October for "improving pilot training and
qualifications to reduce or eliminate the types of errors that caused the Colgan accident,"
the agency told USA TODAY in a statement.
Helena Reidemar, the Air Line Pilots Association's director of human factors, said pilots
must remain as active in monitoring controls as in actually flying the plane.
"The brain is not wired to reliably monitor instruments that rarely fail," Reidemar said.
"We're not robots. We can't just sit there and stare at the instruments for hours on end."
In addition to continually checking controls, flight crews must avoid distractions such as
those cited in an incident in 2009 in which two Northwest pilots using laptop computers
overshot their scheduled landing in Minneapolis by 100 miles.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/22/pilot-training-faa-ntsb-asiana-
crash/2676517/
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Pilots urged to learn limitations of glass-cockpit technology
Pilots shouldn't rely solely on in-cockpit avionics such as multifunction displays to keep
them out of severe weather or temporary flight restrictions. The avionics systems and
subscription services have limitations and may not show real-time weather and
temporary flight restriction information.
Accidents caused by delays of up to several minutes in datalink weather have been well
documented. The FAA and Air Safety Institute have reached out to educate pilots on the
dangers of relying on their in-cockpit weather without understanding the delay in the
images appearing on the devices.
Now, pilots are running into a problem that could put them not only in the crosshairs of
the FAA, but also in jeopardy of penetrating TFRs.
As the wildfire season rages across many western states, AOPA has received reports of
pilots violating firefighting TFRs. And pilots are reporting that their avionics did not
display the TFRs.
"Pilots need to understand the limitations of their specific equipment," said Melissa
McCaffrey, AOPA senior government analyst of air traffic services. "The TFR graphics,
whether for natural disasters or VIP movements, on avionics displays might not be in
real time."
Further, McCaffrey explained, the FAA's TFR website might not be displaying the notams
and TFRs in real time. AOPA recommends that pilots call flight service before each flight
to specifically check for TFRs and note the location, either mentally or noted on a chart.
This could help the pilot steer clear of the TFR even if it isn't depicted by a graphical
display.
http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2013/August/22/Pilots-urged-to-learn-
limitations-of-glass-cockpit-technology.aspx
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New FAA, OSHA Policy Aims to Protect Aircraft Cabin Crew Members
OSHA will be able to enforce some safety and health standards not currently covered by
FAA oversight.
The Federal Aviation Administration and OSHA have jointly issued a final policy for
improving workplace safety for aircraft cabin crew members, agreeing to share
enforcement in the skies. FAA's aviation safety regulations take precedence, but OSHA
will be able to enforce certain safety and health standards FAAA currently does not
cover.
"Safety is our number one priority, for both the traveling public and the dedicated men
and women who work in the transportation industry," said Transportation Secretary
Anthony Foxx. "It's important that cabin crew members on our nation's airlines benefit
from OSHA protections, including information about potential on-the-job hazards and
other measures to keep them healthy and safe."
His DOL counterpart, Secretary Thomas Perez, said the policy "shows the strength of
agencies working together and will enhance the safety of cabin crew members and
passengers alike. "It is imperative that cabin crew members have the same level of
safety assurances they provide the public."
The FAA news release said aircraft cabin safety issues that fall under OSHA standards
include information on hazardous chemicals, exposure to bloodborne pathogens, hearing
conservation programs, recordkeeping, and access to employee exposure and medical
records. The agencies will develop procedures to ensure that OSHA does not apply
requirements that could harm aviation safety. "Our cabin crewmembers contribute to the
safe operation of every flight each day," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. "We're
taking an important step toward establishing procedures for resolving cabin crew
workplace health and safety concerns."
"We look forward to working with the FAA and through our alliance with the aviation
industry and labor organizations to improve the safety of cabin crewmembers," said Dr.
David Michaels, OSHA's assistant secretary.
http://ohsonline.com/articles/2013/08/23/policy-aims-to-protect-aircraft-cabin-crew-
members.aspx?admgarea=news
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UND graduates receive exemption from aviation rule
FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- Pilots who graduate from the University of North Dakota aviation
school will be eligible to work for commercial airlines with fewer flight hours than
required by a new federal rule, college officials said Thursday.
The Grand Forks school is the first college aviation program to receive an exemption
from a Federal Aviation Administration requirement that each pilot have 1,500 hours of
flying time to work for the nation's airlines. The new rule will allow UND pilots to fly as
first officers - in the right seat of the cockpit - when they reach 1,000 hours.
Elizabeth Bjerke, UND's associate chair of aviation, said the ruling emphasizes "quality
over quantity" in flight training.
"A quality program is going to produce quality pilots and that's who we want flying," she
said.
The FAA has been ironing out new regulations following the 2009 crash of a Colgan
Airlines flight in Buffalo, N.Y., that killed 49 people in the plane and one person in a
home. Federal safety investigators say pilot error led the plane to stall.
Congress responded to the accident by passing a law requiring that all airline pilots
receive an advanced pilot license known as an Airline Transport Pilot certificate. That led
to the FAA requirement that doubled the amount of flying time that airlines normally
required before hiring aviation graduates from UND and elsewhere.
"Historically airlines would hire our graduates at about 700 or 800 hours," Bjerke said.
"They would do very well in training because they had a good solid foundation and still
they were trainable by the airlines."
Several regional airlines are worried about a shortage of pilots with the new rules and
the exemption should bolster the workforce, Bjerke said. She expects the other four-year
aviation schools to apply for and receive the special authorization for the restricted ATP
license from the FAA.
Bjerke and aviation researchers from four other colleges analyzed pilot background and
training records at more than a dozen regional airlines. She said it showed that pilots at
four-year accredited aviation programs performed better than pilots who were trained
elsewhere, such as a flight academy.
The study was forwarded to an FAA rule-making committee.
Bruce Smith, dean of UND's aerospace school, said in a statement that the FAA decision
shows the quality of the school's commercial aviation program.
"To be the first designated is a reflection on the long-term reputation of our graduates in
the airline industry,
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/22/5673313/und-graduates-receive-
exemption.html#storylink=cpy
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Man in court for aiming laser pointer at state police aircraft (Virginia)
CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) -The man accused of aiming a green laser pointer in the air
at a Virginia State Police pilot will be in Chesterfield Court Friday.
20-year-old Matthew Farr is charged with interfering with an aircraft. The incident has
sparked a federal investigation by the FAA.
Farr says that he did not know what he was doing at the time. His hearing is scheduled
for 10:30 a.m.
http://www.nbc12.com/story/23236980/man-in-court-for-aiming-laser-pointer-at-state-
police-aircraft
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India's air safety rating could fall after AI crew complain
India's fears of being marked poorly by the United Nations' aviation watchdog, which is
assessing air safety standards in the country, grew on Wednesday, after Air India's cabin
crew accused the airline of of rampant safety violations.
In a l etter, sent to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on August 21,
the Union also alleged that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been
turning a blind eye to these lapses.
"We have reported more than 5000 safety violations on long haul destination flights
alone, over the past three years. However, as the DGCA has ignored them, we were left
with no choice but approach the ICAO," said a member of the All India Cabin Crew
Association, requesting anonymity.
The union, representing cabin crew personnel operating AI's long distance international
flights, also threatened to report the matter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),
the US aviation regulator scheduled to begin its audit on September 9.
Some violations highlighted by the crew include understaffing long distance flights and
inadequate resting areas for in-flight crew.
According to the crew, flights with travel time of up to 16 hours should have at least 16
flight attendants.
The DGCA had also said if the head count was below that the airline is not permitted to
serve food on board.
However the complaint claimed that AI offers three meal services on such flights.
The AICCA further stated that the airline is supposed to offer bunk beds to crew for rest
on board, but the violation continues.
"Flight duty rules have been created so that cabin and cockpit crew can tackle flight
fatigue Fatigue on board could incapacitate the crew and endanger passengers' safety,"
said an independent air safety expert requesting anonymity.
Despite several attempts to contact him, DGCA chief Arun Mishra was not available for a
comment.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/India-s-air-safety-rating-could-fall-
after-AI-crew-complain/Article1-1111704.aspx
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NTSB Communications Course
National Transportation Safety Board Washington, D.C. Public Affairs: 202-314-
6100 Direct: 202-314-6219
Title
Managing Communications Following an Aircraft Accident
or Incident
Co-sponsor
Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA)
Description
The course will teach participants what to expect in the days immediately
following an aviation accident or incident and how they can prepare for their role
with the media.
ID Code
PA302
Dates, Tuition
and Fee
October 24-25, 2013
$1034 early registration, by September 24, 2013
$1084 late registration, between September 25 and 12:00 pm (noon) ET on
October 23, 2013
$100 processing fee will be added to tuitions for all
offline applications. A tuition invoice can be ordered for a
$25 processing fee.
Note: payment must be made at time of registration.
Times
Oct. 24: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Oct. 25: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Location
NTSB Training Center * 45065 Riverside Parkway * Ashburn, Virginia 20147
Status
OPEN. Applications are now being accepted.
Apply to Attend
October 24-25, 2013
CEUs
1.3
Overview
* How the National Transportation Safety Board organizes an accident
site and what can be expected in the days after an aviation disaster
from the NTSB, FAA, other federal agencies, airline, airport, media
and local community
* Strategies for airline and airport staff to proactively manage the
communication process throughout the on-scene phase of the
investigation
* How the NTSB public affairs officers coordinate press conferences and
release of accident information and what information the
spokespersons from the airport and airline will be responsible to
provide to the media
* Making provisions for and communicating with family members of
those involved in the accident
* Questions and requests likely encountered from the airlines, airport
staff, family members, disaster relief agencies, local officials and
others
> Comments from course participants
> See the 219 organizations from 28 countries that have sent staff to attend
this course
Performance
Results
Upon completion of this course the participant will be able to:
* Be better prepared to respond to a major aviation disaster involving a
flight departing from or destined for participant's airport
* Demonstrate greater confidence in fielding on-scene questions about
the many aspects of the investigation and its participants, including
what types of specific information may be requested
* Identify the appropriate Public Affairs roles for the various
organizations involved in an accident investigation.
* Be more productive in the first few hours after an aviation disaster by
understanding which tasks are most important and why
* Perform job responsibilities more professionally and with greater
confidence given the knowledge and tools to manage the airport
communications aspect of a major aviation disaster
Who May Attend
This course is targeted to who, in the event of an aviation disaster, will need
to provide a steady flow of accurate information to media outlets and/or
other airport, federal or local authorities.
Accommodations
Area hotels and restaurants
Airports
Washington Dulles International (IAD): 10 miles
Washington Ronald Reagan National (DCA): 30 miles
Baltimore/Washington International (BWI): 60 miles
More
Information
Email TrainingCenter@ntsb.gov or call (571) 223-3900
Courses, forums and symposia are added to the schedule throughout the
year. Subscribe to the e-newsletter to learn about upcoming events and new
programs: http://www.ntsb.gov/trainingcenter/list/list_mw020207.htm
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Lufthansa starts campaign to lure more female pilots
Germany's flagship carrier has announced that it will redouble its efforts to attract more
female pilots for its passenger and cargo fleet. The airline is fighting a misconception the
job might not really be for women.
On Thursday, Lufthansa announced that it would launch a campaign to lure more female
pilots to work for Germany's No. 1 airline.
The carrier reported that only 20 percent of all applications currently came from women
and that many potential candidates obviously still believed that te job was better suited
for men.
Lufthansa currently employs some 300 female pilots, with about 80 percent of them in
action as flight captains. However, these account for only 6 percent of all female pilots in
the service of Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and the low-budget subsidiary, Germanwings.
Glass ceiling in the sky
Learning with Lufthansa
The world's first female pilot was Raymonde de Laroche, who got her license from the
Aero Club de France on March 8, 1919.
Nicola Lisy started working as Lufthansa's first female co-pilot back in 1988. On January
1, 2000, she made history as the airline's first female flight captain, after 12 years of
experience in the cockpits of Boeing 737 and Boeing 747 aircraft.
According to Lufthansa, men and women are treated equally in the application process
and training, as well as as employees.
http://www.dw.de/lufthansa-starts-campaign-to-lure-more-female-pilots/a-17038588
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NATA Safety 1st Updates Training to Meet December OSHA Deadline
Alexandria, VA, August 22, 2013 - The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is
pleased to announce the availability of its recently revised online NATA Safety 1st
Hazardous Communications (HazCom) training program.
In 2012, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) finalized rule
changes aligning its HazCom Standard with the Globally Harmonized System of
Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). OSHA has required that employers train
their employees on the new label elements and safety data sheet format contained
within the rule by December 1, 2013. Employers can now utilize the revised NATA Safety
1st HazCom module to meet this critical deadline for training employees.
For more information or to purchase the HazCom Training Module please visit
www.nata.aero/HazCom.
"We are very excited to be able to provide this resource to our members and the
industry," said NATA Director, Safety and Training, Michael France. "Hazardous
communications are a vital regulatory compliance component for any business, but they
also just make good safety sense. A properly informed and educated employee is able to
make safer decisions at work."
The NATA Safety 1st HazCom training module is an online training module suitable for
FBOs, maintenance and flight departments and any other aviation business. The training
includes downloadable and printable student resources as well as a printable certificate
of completion to aid in record-keeping. The HazCom training program is available for
purchase online for $24 per student with volume discounts for purchases greater than 50
students.
NATA, the voice of aviation business, is the public policy group representing the interests
of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies. For more information
about NATA, please visit www.nata.aero , www.twitter.com/nataaero or
www.facebook.com/nataaero .
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GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY
I am a graduate student at Middle Tennessee State University working on an MS in
Aviation Safety. For my thesis, I am looking at factors that influence the overall safety
culture at major airlines.
Airline Flight Operations Safety Perceptions: A survey of airline employees
working in flight operations is being conducted to assess various
perceptions of the overall safety environment of airline companies.
Your input is needed.
If you are an airline employee working in flight operations, I would very
much appreciate your taking the time necessary to complete this
questionnaire. It should take less than 10 minutes.
Please access the survey at https://www.research.net/s/87D7CZ9 or visit
http://www.urcaptainspekin.com/blog/ to learn more.
Thank you for your time.
Captain Edward L. Owen
Curt Lewis